Dural, New South Wales

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Dural is a semi‑rural suburb in Sydney, New South Wales. It sits about 36 kilometres northwest of Sydney’s CBD and is part of the Hills District, falling within The Hills Shire and Hornsby Shire local government areas.

History and origin
The land was originally home to the Darug people. The name Dural comes from Dooral-Dooral, meaning a smoking hollow tree. The name appeared on an 1817 map and once covered a larger area that now includes Glenorie, Galston and Middle Dural. Dural sits along the Old Northern Road, a historic route built by convicts between 1825 and 1836 to connect Sydney with the Hunter Valley. The first European land grant in the area went to George Hall in 1879. A sandstone chapel, St Jude’s Church, was built on Old Northern Road around 1846 and is now listed on the Register of the National Estate. Dural Post Office opened on 1 August 1864. Round Corner is a locality in the southwest part of Dural.

Today’s Dural
As of the 2021 census, about 7,900 people live in Dural. Most residents were born in Australia (about 64%), with small communities from China, England, India, South Africa and Malaysia. Most people speak English at home, with some speaking Arabic, Cantonese, Persian and Italian. The main religions are Catholic, No Religion, Anglican, and Buddhism. The area has a relatively high income and most homes are large, with many four or more bedrooms.

Housing and community
Dural is known for its spacious houses and strong home ownership. It hosts several sports and social clubs, including the Dural Rugby Club, Dural Country Club (soccer), and other local teams. The Wallatag event is held in the summer at the Bernie Mullane Sports Complex in nearby Kellyville. Most people rely on buses to travel to nearby train stations, as Dural has no railway station. Buses connect to Castle Hill, Cherrybrook and Pennant Hills. A CDC NSW depot is located on New Line Road.

Film and culture
Dural has appeared in Australian TV and film. It was the site for the TV game show It’s a Knockout (1985–1987) and was the home setting in the soap Sons and Daughters during the 1981–1987 run. A manor house on Old Northern Road, Le Chateau, was used for Beauty and the Geek Australia. Quarry Road is home to the Amateur Radio New South Wales clubrooms, library and broadcasting site.

If you’re exploring the area, Dural’s mix of rural charm and convenient access to Sydney makes it a distinctive part of the region.